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Student art on display at XIT Museum

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By Robin Scott

The Dallam-Hartley Counties Historical Association celebrated the Arts Tuesday evening, March 23rd, at an artists’ reception honoring students from both Dalhart High School and Dalhart Junior High School.
The high school students exhibited art that included works by students in all levels of art classes and included self-portraits, clay tic-tac-toe boards and pieces, sculptures created in floral foam and then painted, and drawings of pencils creating animals.
Junior High students displayed self-portraits, group paintings and clay bells. Tammy Douglas and KeliAn Frates, art teachers, were beaming with excitement for their students. The annual event allows the students’ art to be enjoyed by all visitors at the museum.
Las Viajeras Study Club provided the refreshments during the event. Members that participated in making and serving refreshments at Tuesday’s exhibit included Margaret Adamson, Siny Brinkman, Janet Banks, Leabelle Finch, Marion Gamertsfelder, Lynne Hill, Rita Lucas, Liny Mellema, Mildred Metcalf, Earleen Moore, Ann Reynolds, Shirley Roggow, Ruby Tharp, Sharon Wilson, Virginia Wedel and Judi Trayler.
The museum’s annual meeting followed the art celebration. The first order of business was to elect members to the board of directors for the ensuing year. Three board positions were up for election. Sylvia Renick, who has served on the board for 12 years, retired. Her many years of dedicated service were acknowledged. Renick stated, “I love the board and I’ll do anything to help the museum, but I feel it is time to allow someone new an opportunity to bring new ideas to the board.” Two board members agreed to new terms and Amy Schniederjan accepted the nomination to the board. She was unanimously voted in as the newest board member.
Nick Olson, Museum Curator and teacher, gave a presentation on the activities of the museum during the past year. His talk included photos capturing exciting moments at the museum or sponsored by the museum, including one of the young students holding a 15-foot albino python
snake. The XIT Museum sponsors several events all year long and is also home to many permanent collections. Olson noted, “A collection could be one item or it may consist of hundreds of items.” Of great pride for the museum this past year was the addition of the piano that now has a permanent home in the museum.
The museum is home to thousands of photographs and archival documents, microfilm newspapers dating to the late 1800’s, as well as many items that evidence the history of the panhandle area. Youngsters have a great opportunity each year to attend programs sponsored by the museum that are designed to give them hands-on experience. One guest that often thrills the children with her storytelling is Eldrena Douma, who was one of the speakers this past year.
Olson noted, “Eldrena has been here for three or four summers and her storytelling always brings in a larger crowd each year.”
For more information about the programs and events held at the XIT Museum call 244-5390 or stop by the museum located at 108 East 5th Street across from the Dallam County Courthouse.